PLASTER WALLS!

Dear reader, if this entry or my other blog entries don't answer your specific photography questions, you can call me on the phone anytime for advice by clicking here.

If you come across old peeling and mottled plaster walls, you are in the right place! Take pictures of the wall, and save the images in a folder called "textures". Use these textures in Photoshop as layer style backgrounds. Here is an example:

The wine was photographed on a plain white background. The plaster wall was added next on an additional layer. When the plaster layer goes over the wine photo, simply erase the area above the wine so the bottle can be revealed.

This is a rough explanation of the process, but it will get you started!

Mark's photographic prints for your wall can be purchased at www.markhemmings.com

Mark can be hired as a photographer or filmmaker via www.hemmingshouse.com

SERENDIPITOUS ACCIDENTS

Dear reader, if this entry or my other blog entries don't answer your specific photography questions, you can call me on the phone anytime for advice by clicking here.

I was shooting interiors for a nice cafe called Magnolia in my home town, and just as I took a picture through a window a customer walked into the frame. I was slightly annoyed at first, and just about pressed the delete button, but realized that it could actually work as a viable image:



It is wise to keep images in the camera until you have had plenty of time to judge the photo's worth when back at the computer.


Mark's photographic prints for your wall can be purchased at www.markhemmings.com
Mark can be hired as a photographer or filmmaker via www.hemmingshouse.com

INDUSTRIAL TIME LAPSES

Dear reader, if this entry or my other blog entries don't answer your specific photography questions, you can call me on the phone anytime for advice by clicking here.

In late fall we finished a very cool project where we were hired to do a time-lapse of a Potash Mining tower being constructed. While this blog post may not be of interest to many of you, the great thing about films like this is that it is within every photographer's grasp. The entire production was done on a Nikon D300 and Nikon D90, both cameras being prosumer models, and not too expensive:




As our company grows, we continually desire to stretch our creativity by pushing inexpensive (but good) equipment to the limit. While this philosophy will have its detractors, the bottom line is that so far we have received very favorable responses from our clients. Their desire is quality at a low price, ours is quality with as much profit as possible. This is often accomplished by the balancing act of reducing expenses as much as possible without sacrificing on the technical and aesthetic side. Essentially, if you can do the job with the camera that you have, instead of buying the newest and coolest, save that money and reinvest it into your company. Eventually you will need to upgrade, and at that time you will have the savings to do so.



Mark's photographic prints for your wall can be purchased at www.markhemmings.com
Mark can be hired as a photographer or filmmaker via www.hemmingshouse.com

LARGE CANVAS PRINTS

Dear reader, if this entry or my other blog entries don't answer your specific photography questions, you can call me on the phone anytime for advice by clicking here.


Canvas on Demand sent me a free 16x20 for me to do a review. I sent one of my photos of Budapest (Buda Castle at Sunrise), and I was very impressed. The colors are excellent, the frame is thick wood, and the canvas material is substantial.

The above stretched canvas print is of a photo that I took in my studio leaning against an easel with a white backdrop (more on that to follow). Here are some more images of the canvas print:

I have no complaints, it arrived quickly, and the photo looks like a painting! The canvas was well packaged for shipping, and it will find a nice home in our new photo studio that we are opening next month in Saint John. Here is their website: http://www.canvasondemand.com


So . . . perfect time for a quick and useful tip on how to photograph artwork the easy way. Here is the set up, using the 16x20 large canvas print:

1. Place two strobes or normal flashes in front and to the side of the artwork.
2. Place the artwork at an angle so that it will be facing you straight on when you take the picture.
3. Don't worry about using an easel or stool to lean the artwork on, this will be cut out later.
4. Choose f8 for your shutter speed, and around 1/200 for your shutter.
5. Take the photo with the flashes bouncing off the white ceiling (as shown in the photo).
6. The bounce will create a soft light, and the angle of light hitting in the artwork will keep reflections at bay.
7. If the photo is too light or dark, adjust the flash power, or your f-stop accordingly.
8. Take the image in photoshop or another editing program, cut out the background so that only pure white is behind the artwork.


Have fun!

Mark's photographic prints for your wall can be purchased at www.markhemmings.com
Mark can be hired as a photographer or filmmaker via www.hemmingshouse.com

STILL/MOTION DSLR SHOOTING

Dear reader, if this entry or my other blog entries don't answer your specific photography questions, you can call me on the phone anytime for advice by clicking here.

While filming some scenes for a client in Mexico, I came across a stunning view that would be tough to replicate:

When filming with a Video DSLR camera, you can usually (depending on the brand) take a printable still photo at any time during your filming. For example, I was shooting this scene on video, but realized that I would want it as a high resolution RAW still photo as well. I simply clicked the shutter button, the camera immediately switched to still photography mode, and I got my shot. The only downside to this process is a break in your filming, but it is worth that minor inconvenience, especially when fleeting moments happen before your camera.

Mark's photographic prints for your wall can be purchased at www.markhemmings.com
Mark can be hired as a photographer or filmmaker via www.hemmingshouse.com

SUBWAY STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

Dear reader, if this entry or my other blog entries don't answer your specific photography questions, you can call me on the phone anytime for advice by clicking here.

Whenever I am in Tokyo I always enjoy walking through the mad rush of humanity in Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Tokyo subway/train stations. A fun and often intriguing street photography technique is to look for the large ad signage on the walls, and wait for the right people to walk by.

Sometimes this works, sometime it doesn't. The ones that do work, however, make the waiting worth it!

Mark's photographic prints for your wall can be purchased at www.markhemmings.com
Mark can be hired as a photographer or filmmaker via www.hemmingshouse.com

JAPAN AND THE NIKON 35mm f1.8 LENS

Dear reader, if this entry or my other blog entries don't answer your specific photography questions, you can call me on the phone anytime for advice by clicking here.

I just got back from an excellent trip to Japan, and was fortunate to get this shot of a Maiko Geisha as she entered the famous Ichiriki-tei tea house on Hanami-koji street in Kyoto.

It was dark outside, so I used the new and very nice Nikon 35mm f1.8 lens with a higher ISO. I had no idea what the results would be! Looking at the image now, it could pass for a performance on a stage due to the street lights and curtain.

I have used the Nikon 35mm f1.8 quite a bit now, and I don't have a single complaint. It is great for travel photography, as it is lightweight, inexpensive, great in low-light conditions, has an excellent background blur, and works very well with DSLR video.

Mark's photographic prints for your wall can be purchased at www.markhemmings.com
Mark can be hired as a photographer or filmmaker via www.hemmingshouse.com

FACES

Dear reader, if this entry or my other blog entries don't answer your specific photography questions, you can call me on the phone anytime for advice by clicking here.

This was a fun shoot for a local natural skin care company. We are blessed at our studio to have photogenic employees (the model)!


When photographing people in a light and airy manner such as the above photo, it helps to darken the hair, eyelids, eyelashes, etc. with the Burn tool in Photoshop. The subsequent darker areas provide needed contrast for a picture that otherwise would be too washed out.


Mark's photographic prints for your wall can be purchased at www.markhemmings.com
Mark can be hired as a photographer or filmmaker via www.hemmingshouse.com

SKI MOUNTAINS

Dear reader, if this entry or my other blog entries don't answer your specific photography questions, you can call me on the phone anytime for advice by clicking here.

This shot was taken at Mount Tremblant, in Quebec Canada. It is a wonderful ski resort, with great restaurants and a good vibe. When out on the slopes try to take a decent point and shoot, or even better, a small consumer DSLR. Often unexpected photos present themselves due to changing light conditions in relation to the snow.



This shot is dramatic because the artificial snow stuck to all of the trees, and its brightness contrasts nicely with the dark forest beyond. For more drama, increase the contrast setting in your camera, and underexpose slightly. The result of slight underexposure and high contrast settings will be nice rich, deep black tones.

So in conclusion: wherever possible, take your camera! Most of my shots that were winners have been a result of being in the right place at the right time, with a camera in tow.

Mark's photographic prints for your wall can be purchased at www.markhemmings.com
Mark can be hired as a photographer or filmmaker via www.hemmingshouse.com